Dear Parents and Carers

It’s good to welcome everyone back after the Easter break. A combination of the break and the good weather has meant people have returned to school in high spirits and the atmosphere around the place is very positive. We have maintained all the same anti-virus regulations as last term, but look forward to them easing up over the course of this one.

After a period of time without any Covid cases, unfortunately we have had one positive case already this term. However, the use of the lateral flow tests at home has made sure it was caught early and, whilst we were extremely sorry to have to send students home yesterday, we are very hopeful that further spread has been prevented. Please do alert us immediately to any positive results you get as you test at home so that we can take swift action. Any lateral flow positive result at home must be confirmed by a PCR test at a test centre (as this current case has been), but we act on the first result from the home test – better safe than sorry.

This term, departments have launched their post-lockdown Covid recovery curriculums for Years 7-10 and 12. Each department has gone through their schemes of work, focusing on the content and skills which weave through the curriculum into GCSE and A level years in order to ensure your children are taught the most important parts of each subject. In most cases, the schemes of work have been shortened, with some aspects either removed or covered more swiftly to allow time for the vital knowledge and skills to be taught. The plan is to make sure that no child is disadvantaged by the lockdowns they have experienced. Led by Mrs Ealden and Mrs Clarke, each head of department has provided an outline of what is to be covered this term, links to helpful online resources, and guidance on further development in their subject. This can all be found on our website – Recovery curriculum – and has been designed to help you support your children. Please take time to look through the relevant subjects and follow the links. We hope this gives you the tools to support your child through this term and, working together, we can make sure all our students get to where they need to be as soon as possible.

For students in Years 10 and 12, we have included guidance on this term’s content but rest assured we, along with the whole profession, are pushing exam boards and Ofqual to publish early any adjustments to exams in 2022. We assume the exams will go ahead, but also assume that the powers that be can see that any changes to the specifications must be made as soon as possible so we can prepare the students properly. I will keep you informed.

Best wishes

Andy Perry – Head Teacher

Click here to return to the current newsletter